'Blades Rally for 3-2 Shootout Win Over Reading

ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to defeat the Reading Royals 3-2 in the shootout Wednesday night at Germain Arena.  The win keeps the Everblades playoff hopes alive

The Royals grabbed a 2-0 advantage during a one minute and ten second span in the first period.  Both goals came off the stick of Josh Brittain.

The first one came at 7:48 after some aggressive forechekcing efforts by the Royals gave the Everblades trouble causing a turnover behind the net.  Reading worked the puck to the left wing circle to Yannick Tifu.  Tifu then stretched a pass across the crease to Brittain who buried the puck into the net for the game’s first goal.

Brittain grabbed his second goal of the game moments later when he tipped and redirected a Aaron Gens shot from the blue line past Florida goaltender Andy Iles. Reading took the 2-0 edge into the first intermission.

The Royals continued to control play in the second period, and preserved the two goal cushion into the second break.

Florida got on the board at 3:54 of the third.  Aaron Bogosian found a lose puck in the slot and flipped a backhanded shot that clipped off the crossbar and down into the net behind Reading netminder Brandon Anderson.

Bogosian’s goal ignited the Everblades, who outshot the Royals 19-7 in the third period, and continued to pepper shots on Anderson’s net. Anderson came up big and continued to make the big saves.  Andy Iles did the same to keep it a one goal game stopping three big chances by Reading in the period.

Florida pulled the goaltender to allow for the extra attacker in the final minute.  Defenseman Mike Little fired a shot from the point that was tipped by Trevor Bruess and directed into the Reading net for the tying goal with 50 seconds remaining and eventually forcing overtime.

Neither team could seal the game in the extra session, which sent the game to be decided in the shootout.   Reading took the lead in the shootout on a goal by Tifu. However, the ‘Blades responded with three consecutive shootout goals by Mathieu Roy, Brandon MacLean, and Evan Bloodoff.  Andy Iles stopped the remaining two shooters en route to the 3-2 come-from-behind victory.

Both goaltenders were stellar in the game.  Iles earns his second career win stopping 23 of 25 shots, while Anderson takes the loss allowing two goal on 34 shots faced.

With the win in the shootout, the Everblades must continue to win on Friday, while Fort Wayne must not earn any more than one point in their final two games.

The two teams will meet again on Friday at 7:30 p.m.   Friday opens Fan Appreciation Weekend opens, and fans will receive an Everblades Team Photo courtesy of FGCU & Direct Impressions!  The Fur Circus will be performing throughout the night, so bring the kids!  There will also be a team awards ceremony prior to the game!

Tickets may be purchased at the Capital Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena, or at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com

Discounted Group Tickets: Bring your group of 10 or more to a game at a discounted price, and also receive an Everblades souvenir! Group tickets are available for all home games. For more information on group tickets, call 239-948-7825.

2014-15 Ticket Packages are currently on sale! Full season and 12-game, and 24-game options are also available! All packages save you money from the box office price, and come with many great benefits.  For more information call  239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades Main Office located at Germain Arena, Monday—Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Broadcast Information: All ‘Blades games will be broadcast live online at www.floridaeverblades.com  and on the Everblades’ app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, with a video webcast available through America ONE, the official broadband and mobile broadcaster of the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliateof the Carolina Hurricanes and TampaBay Lightning.

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